The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-12
POLITICAL oUTRAGEs IN TEXAS.
Startling Allegations Made by Three Repub-
lican Exiles from Washin ton County.

Startling Allegations Made by Three Repub-
lican Exiles from Washing ton County.
WAsEINGToN, JAM 1.-THE petition of
Stephen A Hackworth a real estate dealer,
James L. moore, amerchant and Carl Schurtze.
ex-district attorney of Washington county, and
editor of the BRENNAN Stats Zetung, present
ed to-day by Senator Hawley, sets forth that
they were law-abiding citizens of Brennan,
Washington county, Tex, who ''dared to be-
lleve and maintain the right to be Republicans
in politics." For this, ''ther only crime" it con-
Times, ''your petitioners are now exiles from
their homes, having been compelled to leave I'M
der serious threats of assassination, and aban-
don their property, or to accept for it such
prices as were proffsred them" The petition
states that at an election held on the I'd of last
November, "a perfect reign OF terror existed in
Washington county, caused by armed bands
of white rufians, who, by violence and by the
destruction of ballotboxes at Graball, Flewen-
ems and Lofts store election precincts, prevented
the free aud fair expression of suffrage by the
citizens of said county, whereby men in whose
interest these crimes we're committed were de-
clared elected who were not in fact, elected, and
by the most shameless and unblushing frauds
the petition continues. made to obtain redress
for wrongs and security for life and property.
has been prevented by the wanton and cruel
murder OF important witnesses, and by the
further fact that body of State troops, ostensi-
bly, ordered to the county to preserve law and
order, in fact, acted in open concert with the
lawless men who had committed the election
outrages.'
The petition further AYERS that the Republic
ANS are in the majority in Washington county,
but that in order to prevent Republicans from
securing their political rights and privileges in
the county, Alfred Jones, Shadrach Folder and
Stewart Jones. three colored Republicans, we're
arrested on pretended charges of crime, and,
while in the custody of the civil authorities,
were surrendered to q Ku-klux band and
hanged, for the reason that the civil authorities
of sale county, together with their leading DO
liticai friends. well knowing that satisfactory
such trial which would expose and make
public their political crimes, ordered
and instigated tie death Of said AL
fred Jones, Shadrach Folder and Stewart
Jones" The petitioners further state that that
John Ireland, Governor of Texas has failed and
refused to make any efforts whatever to have
arrested and brought to trial the lawess men
yho committed this outrage. although the facts
We're made known to him, and he was earnestly
requested to take prompt action therein"
After a further recitation In more detail OF the
charges already narrated, the petition con-
eludes: "And your petitioners hereby respect
fully submit all matters herein stated and COM
planned of to your honorable body for your care
fol consideration and such action as you may
deem necessary to cure the evils herein stated,
and thereby secure to all citizens of the
United States their rights under a republican
form of government, in fact, as well as in
name"